Najee Harris Blasts Mike Tomlin After Chargers Trade

Pittsburgh, PA – April 9, 2025. Najee Harris has unleashed a verbal barrage on Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin just weeks after being traded to the Los Angeles Chargers, igniting a firestorm among fans and analysts alike. The former Steelers running back, shipped out on March 14 for a 2025 fourth-round pick, didn’t hold back in a Tuesday interview with KCAL’s Chris Hayre, laying bare his frustrations with Tomlin’s leadership.

Harris, who racked up 4,312 yards and 28 touchdowns over four seasons in Pittsburgh, painted a grim picture of his time under Tomlin. “We didn’t know anything on offense—Tomlin never gave us an identity,” he snapped, his words dripping with resentment. The 27-year-old pointed to a lack of direction that plagued the Steelers post-Ben Roethlisberger, a void he claims stunted his growth.

The trade came after the Steelers declined Harris’ fifth-year option, a move that signaled the end of his tenure despite four straight 1,000-yard campaigns. “I was young, stuck with a young QB, and Tomlin didn’t bring in vets to guide us,” Harris fumed, referencing the revolving door of Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields, and Russell Wilson—none of whom gelled with him in 2024’s 10-7 season.

Chargers fans welcomed Harris with open arms, but his exit jab at Tomlin has Steelers Nation reeling. “Mike T just coasted—we had no plan,” he told Hayre, contrasting Pittsburgh’s chaos with the veteran presence he’s found in L.A. alongside stars like Justin Herbert. The one-year, $9.25 million deal he signed feels like a fresh start—and a chance to prove a point.

Fan reactions on X erupted: “Najee’s right—Tomlin’s lost it!” (@SteelCityFan) clashed with “Ungrateful—he got 1,000 yards every year!” (@BurghFaithful). Harris’ 2024 stat line—1,043 yards on 263 carries—shows he thrived despite the mess, but his 3.9 yards-per-carry average hints at the offensive struggles he endured.

Tomlin, ever stoic, brushed off the critique at the NFL owners’ meetings. “Naj is entitled to his opinion—we had a great run with him,” he said, sidestepping the barbs. Yet, Harris’ words sting as Pittsburgh’s playoff drought hits eight years, amplifying calls for change after a wild-card loss to Baltimore in January.

The Steelers’ offseason overhaul—trading Harris, Fields, and snagging D.K. Metcalf—aimed to reset, but Harris’ blast suggests deeper rot. With Aaron Rodgers still unsigned and Mason Rudolph as QB1, the offensive identity crisis lingers, leaving Tomlin’s seat warmer than ever.

Harris’ exit rant isn’t just sour grapes—it’s a spotlight on Pittsburgh’s woes. As he gears up to pound defenses in L.A., Steelers fans wonder: was Tomlin the problem all along, or did Harris miss the bigger picture? The clash promises fireworks when the Chargers host Pittsburgh in 2025.